He is the ninth player to win consecutive MVP trophies and joins Magic Johnson as the only point guards to win the award more than once.

"I have to pinch myself," Nash said. "I can't believe that I'm standing here today. I couldn't believe it last year, and to do it again is even more difficult to understand -- but I'm not going to give it back."

The Suns playmaker received 57 first-place votes and 924 points overall from a panel of 125 sportswriters and broadcasters in the United States and Canada.

James had 16 first-place votes and 688 points overall.

"It would have been nice of course to put another trophy in my house, in my showcase," he said from Auburn Hills, Mich., before the Cavaliers lost to the Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. "But it's something I'm going to keep working hard for. I can't dwell on not being named MVP."

Nash's close friend Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas was third with 14 first-place ballots and 544 overall.

The Lakers' Kobe Bryant had the second-most votes for first place (22), but was fourth overall with 483 points.